The health news blog is maintained by eDiets.com's Nutrition Support Team, unless otherwise noted.
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eDiets.com reserves the right to delete any comments we deem inappropriate.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Eat Healthy on a Budget
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With the rising cost of food, it's almost hard to believe that you can buy healthy food on a limited budget. The first and most important thing to do is to make a list of everything you need and the amounts. The perimeters of the store contain the healthier foods, so start there before visiting the center. Many stores get bargains sometimes and pass on the savings to you, so look for sales. Buy in bulk, especially with expensive items like fruits. You can get a large bag of apples, for example, instead of buying individuals. If these suggestions are ones you already knew, it's only the beginning so read on and save!
Renee, BS, LD/N, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
"If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?"
Labels: Grocery shopping
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Should your child be on a budget?
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I know it is hard to refuse a cute face, asking you to buy ice cream and the latest toy in the store every time you go out. If you feel out of control and can't refuse, you might be spending too much on your child. Rest assured, you are not alone, and it might not be too late to teach yourself and your children good budgeting tools.
Consider putting yourself and your child on an allowance. Also make a budget and allocate the expenses to help you see how your money is spent. If your children are older, you might want to pay them for taking out the trash, or doing their homework; it will teach them the value of responsibility and they can earn money at the same time! It will also make your trip to the mall more enjoyable.
Remember to check your budget frequently. You may find that this year having your 4-year olds birthday party at the park for a barbecue is more reasonable at that time compared to hiring a magician and a clown...but still a ton fun!
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Obese Children Miss More School
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A joint research study by Temple and Penn University draws a link indicating that heavier and obese children miss more school in a given year than those children falling within the normal weight range as determined by the Body Mass Index. Prior studies implicated race, socioeconomic status, age and gender as markers for absenteeism. But, this new study places weight at the top of the list of reasons for missing school. This most recent study which focuses on fourth to sixth graders does not conclude why overweight children are missing more school; however, the study does theorize that reasons are less medically based and more emotional or psychologically based. Lead author of the study, Andrew Geier says, “They’re missing school because they don’t want to be bullied and called names.” The medical evidence is clear, obesity can be linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol to name a few, but this new study falls in line with previously published data focused on non-medical complications with obesity. Previous data shows that overweight college students have lower attendance and overweight adults miss more work. Perhaps more evidence that parents need to break the unhealthy eating habits early on to help counter alarming obesity rates and encourage a healthy step in society.
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Monday, August 27, 2007
Can Caffeine Help Block the Sun?
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There is a new report out by the National Academy of Sciences that you caffeine junkies might want to run with. A recent research study conducted by The Laboratory for Research at Rutgers University found a potential link that leads scientists to believe that combining a healthy dose of caffeine and exercise can help destroy precancerous cells resulting from sun damage. The study was conducted on mice not men, but the scientific control sample that ingested caffeine while hitting the treadmill (or mice wheel, if you will), showed the greatest ability to protect against harmful solar radiation. Dr. Michael Gold, dermatologist and spokesman for the Skin Cancer foundation indicated that the study warrants further research and cautioned that until similar results are found in human trials we certainly cannot let down our guard against the harmful sun. “If you go outside, you have to wear sunscreen…it has to be caffeine and exercise with your sunscreen. I wonder if Starbucks will invent a sunscreen next?
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Sunday, August 26, 2007
U.S. Life Expectancy Rates on The Decline?
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I'm sure we all know someone who is without health insurance. For an industrialized nation, we lag behind many other countries when it comes to health care; yet we spend so much on improving it. One alarming statistic which took me by surprise is that an astounding 45 million Americans are without health insurance. This rings close to home because some of my family members make up this statistic. I sometimes worry about them getting sick because they lack health insurance. It's funny how the law mandates that you should not drive on the roads unless you are insured. But what about our health; are we less important than machines? Why is it that we cannot provide health insurance for everyone?
According to the Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, children born in the U.S. in 2004 will live for an average of 77.9 years. This places us at a whopping 42nd in the world! A couple decades earlier we ranked 11th. I know that a lack of health care is not the only contributing factor to our life expectancy demise. Other obvious factors include nutrition and lifestyle since our weight is ballooning and activity level declines yearly. Socialized medicine will certainly increase life expectancy but we have to change other social factors too.
Samantha Goss, RD, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist.
“We are all measured by inches, ages, numbers and all the outside things that don’t add up to who we are on the inside. So let your weight loss journey be one of self-acceptance every step of the way. If you are unhappy with yourself fifty pounds heavier you’ll probably feel the same way when you lose the weight. Happiness is not embedded in outward appearances.”
Labels: Life expectancy
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Thanks so much for posting this. Yes, it has been predicted that those of us late baby boomers will outlive our children. Life expectancy is expected to decline. Hopefully the combination of looking at our children with this in mind, and seeing that despite spending more than any other country on the planet on health care, we don't make the top forty in life-years, will help raise the emotions needed to effect change.
We spend a lot of money planning for retirement and college for our children. Perhaps we need to invest some of that time in preparing healthy food for our families and getting outside together to exercise.
Thanks for the reminder that we all need to be happy at whatever weight we are (a thin body does not ensure happiness), but I know my children will be happiest if I manage my weight to stay healthy for myself and them and to provide a good example to them. We are all afraid of the "C" word, and obesity is responsible for 20 percent of cancers in women in the US.
Lynne Eldridge MD
Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time"
http://www.avoidcancernow.com
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Town Effort to Lose Weight
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The Mayor of the Italian town Varallo had the bright idea to make losing weight a group effort. If the support of the town is not enough to help overweight residents lose, the monetary reward should help to get them going. Men will receive $70 for losing 9 lbs in a month and women will be paid the same for losing 7 lbs. But just wait until you see what the bonus is for keeping the weight off 5 months down the road!
I would love to see U.S. cities follow suit, but unfortunately our country is so overweight that we could go broke with success!
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: weight loss
Friday, August 24, 2007
Whole grains CAN be healthy!
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Studies show that incorporating whole grains into your diet can improve your blood pressure. This is great news, since so many people who have thought carbohydrates were bad for us are now finding they are not, and are re-accepting carbohydrates back into their diets.
Eating all food in moderation is beneficial for our health, but to help lower blood pressure for those with elevated readings, incorporating whole grains can be done while enjoying food and not feeling deprived.
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to focus on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Labels: heart healthy
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"I believe we should find health in the pursuit of pleasure, and pleasure in the pursuit of health. Well, the authors of 'California Healthy' (ISBN978-1-877809-43-9)have turned that philosophy into a "how-to" book! Loaded with practical, detailed, and wonderfully intimate information on how to eat well, be active, and enjoy the rich offerings of numerous locales, the book is one part health guide, one part travel guide. What a wonderful resource! I live in Connecticut...can you help me out, too? in the meantime, I certainly know what book I'm packing whenever I visit California!"
~ David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, Yale University
Director, Prevention Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine
Thursday, August 23, 2007
How hard should your preschooler work?
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Do you remember the days when you were able to bring a blanket and pillow to kindergarten, you would then play, have lunch and take a nap? Well those days are gone! Now preschoolers are driven to become “academically prepared” for kindergarten. What?
We have those who think preschoolers' brains are not adequately developed to accept this challenge. On the other hand, there are those who believe that starting your child at 3 or 4 in a structured environment with academic programs is the key to a successful school career from Elementary through High School.
Not so according to David Elkind, a professor of child development. He states ”the vast majority of human brains aren't developed enough to truly learn reading or math concepts until they've reached the age of reason (typically at age 5 or 6).” So for all you scholars out there, let us know, do you attribute your academic success to an early start or should we bring out the Play-Doh?
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do”
Labels: children
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Omega 3's Are Healthy Fats, but Steer Clear of Quick Fixes!
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Studies have repeatedly shown that omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods such as nuts, flaxseed, fish and some green vegetables, will lower your risk of prostate cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease and diabetes. Fish and shellfish contain the two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Another form of omega-3 fatty acid, ALA, is found in plant foods such as flaxseed, canola oil and walnuts. The problem is, market products enriched with omega-3 fatty acids use ALA, and only a fraction of ALA can be utilized by the body. Hence, it is recommended to consume at least 11 ounces of fatty fish a week for maximum benefits, but Americans barely consume 3 ounces a week! Check out these tips to help you stay healthy...
Renee, BS, LD/N, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
"If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?"
Labels: heart healthy
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Wrong-Site Operations: It Could Happen to You!
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When you are lying in a hospital bed waiting to go 'under the knife' (I never liked that saying), the last thing you want flying through your mind is “What if something goes wrong?!” Yes, a very scary thought whether you are having a simple procedure or a risky surgery. What's even more terrifying is that these surgical mishaps are more common then you think!To hopefully avoid such an error, it has been recommended that you as a patient ask, demand if you have to, that a doctor or nurse make their markings while you are awake and coherent. This can be vital as you may be the 'last defense'.
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: surgery
Monday, August 20, 2007
Obese and an unfit parent??
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A judge ruled a man in Kansas City an unfit adoptive parent because of his obesity. Does this sound like discrimination to you?
Before you answer, think about the goal of adoption agencies when selecting parents for these children. They want people who can provide permanency, love, and a secure environment. Being obese doesn't affect a person's ability to provide these things... does it?
Looking deeper, someone who is obese has an increased risk for developing life-threatening diseases, like diabetes or heart disease. Would it be in the best interest of the child to have parents who are potentially risking their lives? Is it a big enough risk for a judge to reject adoptive parents? What do you think?
Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
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Being from a fat family history I know it was a bad influence that I battle with even to this day at 50! Having to relearn good eating habits, learning to make exercise a part of every day wasn't part of my upbringing. It should be considered when people are being considered as parents.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Women's pre-pregnancy weight may cause birth defects!
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Obesity can pose a number of health problems for everyone and women who are pregnant are no different. Some complications include gestational diabetes which can lead to them having larger babies and infertility. So I was not too surprised that a recent study has shown that obese women may increase the risk of having babies with various abnormalities including spina bifida. All the more reason for women, especially of child bearing years, to achieve a healthy weight before getting pregnant.
Samantha Goss, RD, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist.
“We are all measured by inches, ages, numbers and all the outside things that don’t add up to who we are on the inside. So let your weight loss journey be one of self-acceptance every step of the way. If you are unhappy with yourself fifty pounds heavier you’ll probably feel the same way when you lose the weight. Happiness is not embedded in outward appearances.”
Labels: Pregnancy
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Pets act as positive mental therapy for kids while in the hospital
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When you, an adult, are in the hospital, it is hard enough to deal with all of the prodding and poking from the doctors and nurses, along with the constant interruptions, but for kids it can be 100 times more terrifying. As a solution, some hospitals are implementing animals as a form of mental therapy to make the kids feel more at ease. I think this is a great approach, as the patient can feel relaxed (as much as possible) for some time during their stay!
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to concentrate on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Labels: children, Mental Health
Friday, August 17, 2007
Lost Your Freedom? Regain your independence with the following devices...
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If you know someone that suffers from arthritis and is limited to simple tasks such as walking, cooking or grocery shopping, you might want to keep reading about the following devices. According to WebMD's article “Assistive Devices for Arthritis Sufferers,” there have been many devices created to help those that suffer from arthritis. These devices range from ones that help you eat to others that help you open doors. There are touch or voice activated lamps, utensils created with wide grip foam handles, jar openers, shoes with Velcro grips, etc.
For some, these items may not be considered 'new', but the industry has just created a new logo to be placed on certain food packages as well. It is meant to help identify user-friendly products for those with arthritis. The logo is called “Ease-of-Use Commendation” and if you would like to see what it looks like or want a complete list of products that bear this logo please visit the http://www.arthritis.org/.
Next time you visit your local supermarket keep your eyes open for the new logo!
Wendy,BSc. DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Life is like photography. You use the negative to develop."
Labels: Aging
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Will FitFlops Put You at the Top of Your Game?
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FitFlop is the new casual, active wear shoe causing quite a stir on both sides of the pond. The British-based company hasn’t been able to keep the shoes on the shelf, here in the United States or overseas, for long. Marcia Kilgore, founder of Brandhandling, the company behind the new “muscle building” shoe, explains the biomechanic design, “FitFlops are designed to increase duration and intensity of muscle activity by destabilizing the foot as the wearer walks in them.” There are some experts in the field are skeptical of FitFlop's ability to perform and firm muscle. However, one thing is clear...smart marketing has put Kilgore and her company at the top of their game, but will the FitFlops put you at the top of yours?
I would love to hear personal experiences with the new shoe. Has anyone tried FitFlops yet?
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Labels: shoe
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Sleeping Pills...for Kids?!?
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Although most of us know the importance of sleeping, we actually live in a sleep-deprived society which is now affecting our kids too. In a recent study that appeared in the journal Sleep, researchers found that more than 80% of the kids that visit the doctor for sleeping problems are prescribed with medications, even if they are not approved for use in children. We may think insomnia is the most common reason for the lack of sleep, but other causes like sleep walking, nightmares, refusal to go to bed and restless sleep are very common amongst children and teenagers.Experts in this field recommend infants have 14-15 hours of sleep a day, children ages 1-5 need 12-14 hours, children ages 6-12 should have 9-11 hours and teenagers need 9-9.25 hours a day.
And by the way, for all you adults out there, try to aim for at least 7-9 hours yourself.
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take care, take control and Enjoy!
Labels: children
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Americans are steadily gaining weight?
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U.S. researchers are predicting that at the current pace of weight gain, “75 percent of Americans will be overweight by 2015”. Overweight adults are considered those with a BMI above 25. BMI, which stands for Body Mass Index, is used by the medical community as the measure of a healthy weight. The study also shows that 80% of black women ages 40 and above are overweight, with 50% being obese!
Could this be? These numbers are alarming! With the information that everyone has about heart disease and other nutrition-related diseases, why are these numbers not declining, but on the rise instead? Most people nowadays are more knowledgeable about label reading than finances. Even ”trans fat” is on the fall! I'm curious how they came to this prediction.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do”
Labels: Overweight
Monday, August 13, 2007
Happy Folks Want Pizza, While Sad Folks Want a Cookie!
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The term “comfort food” is generally associated with sugary and fatty foods like brownies, cookies, cakes, ice cream, etc. The results of the survey conducted by Cornell Food and Brand Lab found that most people (86%) craved comfort food when they were feeling happy, some (74%) craved it when they wanted to reward themselves, and only 39% craved these foods when depressed or feeling alone. That said, studies have shown that what a person chooses to eat is highly dependent on how they feel and is not always the above mentioned foods. It seems that happy people craved more foods like pizza or steak and sad people craved the cookies and ice cream! Here are some strategies on how to have your cake and eat it too...
Renee, BS, LD/N, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
"If you don't take care of your body, where are you going to live?"
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Will A Fat Tax Catch On?
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Adding a tax to discourage unhealthy habits is not new. Cigarettes and alcohol products have incurred additional taxes so as to encourage more healthy living, so why not impose a tax on those fatty foods also identified as being unhealthy? Common sense, concludes researchers at Oxford University, would show that such a move would reduce consumer demand and in turn save lives. However, both the study and its opponents fear a “Fat Tax” would impact lower income families the greatest by raising average house hold bills. When it comes to promoting healthy living in your community, where do you draw the line?
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
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what they really need to do is make fresh foods cheaper, like produce and meats, so that its easier/ more cost effective to make healthy choices.
Why can't farmers' markets be established near poor neighborhoods so that those with transportation issues can get to the farmer's markets for fresh produce?? This might help us all to eat more healthful foods.. Some cities have small markets on major road arteries (with their accompanying neighborhoods) into the city business district to encourage more business.
If people want to eat fatty foods they will regardless of the tax involved. I haven't noticed people "not" buying cigarettes or alcohol products if they choose to do so. For instance, if I need gas for my car, I will buy the gas regardless of the "price per gallon". I feel this "Fat Tax" will place stress on low-income families and/or single-parent families who can't afford the higher priced low fat foods, i.e. low-fat ground beef. There must be another way----we can start with educating the public, getting community involvement, etc. A "Fat Tax" is not the answer---there are more people (adults and children) who are overweight than cigerettes smokers or alcohol drinkers.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Dining Out Without Doing Your Diet In!
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Do you trust me? Okay, great! Let's get started then, shall we. Please type the following into your address bar: www.healthydiningfinder.com.This site is phenomenal if you have decided to eat out one night and are desperate to find 'menu choices that fit your healthy lifestyle'. And the steps to finding these meals are just as easy as you may have hoped! Simply enter in your address, price range, and type of dining (take-out, delivery, or catering) and voila, a list of restaurants in your area appears! All you need to do is click on the restaurant you wish to dine at to see the acceptable meal choices along with their nutrition information.
How easy and useful is that?!
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: dining out
Friday, August 10, 2007
Nintendo Wii virtual workout, does it really work?
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If you are the type of person that can't wait for the new and latest craze at your gym, try this for a change...Nintendo Wii circuit training classes. Who said that your aerobics class had to be boring and monotonous? Studeo 55, a gym club in Vancouver, Canada, has incorporated complete circuit training classes using the technology of the Wii as part of your warm up or cool down.
I don't know about you, but it seems fun and interactive, and right up my alley. Not only do these gym classes allow you to try new fitness games, you won't have to spend a dime of your own money (except your gym membership of course)! And in case you are wondering what you may possibly be doing, picture yourself boxing, playing tennis and bowling. There are also more challenging fitness programs are coming your way, such as yoga and aerobics.
I have tried the boxing and tennis games myself and trust me if you are still uncoordinated in real life, the virtual world is no different. It was a lot of fun and definitely a workout!
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“It only takes one person to change your life – you.”
Labels: exercise
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Even the simple game of tennis or bowling requires you to stand and move about. For us past the age of 40 this is a great tool and fun too. Try the boxing sequences on WII.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Obesity is Contagious...the Solution? Find Fit Friends!
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Why do we have a tendency to gain weight? The list is long and thanks to the New England Journal of Medicine there is yet another reason to add to the lengthy list...“The Buddy System”.
Nicholas Christakis, coauthor of the study and professor of Medical Sociology at Harvard Medical School puts it this way, “If your close friend becomes obese in a given time interval, there’s triple the risk that you will follow suit.” If your friend’s weight rises, statistically you are at greater risk of packing on the pounds too! The study takes matters one step further explaining that even people you’ve NEVER met have influence on your weight fluctuations (in a six-degrees-of-separations way). Just another reason to choose your friends wisely!
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Labels: Obesity
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August 10, 2007 7:04 AM